I don’t know about you, but I need a vacation! Travel, rest, and relaxation isn’t just for the summer months. Besides, the fall foliage can provide the perfect back drop for a romantic getaway, family trip, girls’ weekend, or weekend escape. Add in some wine and you have the perfect trip! Below are a few of the best wine regions for a fall trip in the U.S.
Finger Lakes, New York
The Finger Lakes region of New York makes a great wine and recreational destination year round, but it is the fall months that really put this locale on the map. Not only are there several wineries and vineyards to visit, but the area is right among some of the best fall color routes in the country. With over one hundred wineries, you have a lot of options when it comes to creating a route and determining how many days you want to explore. At this time of year you are likely to see a lot of the harvest action and be able to enjoy the business that comes with bringing in the grapes and other crops.
Sonoma County, California
Sonoma County is already a favorite wine destination, and during the fall months it’s not as packed which makes it my favorite time of year to visit. California in fall is great, especially in the area where you are going to find all of the best vineyards and wineries. There are a lot of small towns and trails to choose from, but the best are going to be those small towns that host festivals and have a nice mix of galleries and local eateries. Because the region is so large and filled with hundreds of wineries, your best bet of putting together a trip is to visit wineries based on the type of wine you prefer.
Traverse City, Michigan
If you have never been in the Michigan area during fall you are in for a huge treat because this lakeside part of the country is magnificent at this time of the year. Even though it is so far north, the weather in the fall is great on account of the lake effect that you get. The soil from the fresh lake water environment is what makes the area so bountiful and the wine so unique. There are two popular wine trails in the Traverse City area, and the fall color and harvest that is going on means there is plenty to look at.
Austin, Texas
Austin is part of what is known as the Texas Hill region, where a lot of established and new wineries have been making a name for themselves. You might not think this part of the country has a lot to offer in the way of fall color, but you’d be surprised at the way in which this area comes to live in the fall. Temperatures drop for the region, the grapes are ready to come in, there are several great road trip destinations between Austin and the Texas Hill cities, and then you have the benefit of a vibrant town and community. There might not be miles of blazing red trees, but there is still plenty to see and appreciate in the fall.
Have you visited any of these wine regions during the fall?
